Pensacola Tornados
The Pensacola Tornados are a defunct basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) from 1985-1991. The CBA
The Tornados were actually comprised of two different franchises that moved to Pensacola.
Contents
1985-1986 Season
The first Tornados team began as the LaCrosse Bobcats for a short time in 1983. The team quickly relocated to Toronto and became the Tornados from 1983 through part of the 1985-86 season. Toronto was owned by former NBA owner Ted Stepien. During the season, the Tornados moved to Pensacola. At the time, the CBA is comprised of 14 teams. During the off-season, the team moves to Jacksonville, FL and renamed the Jets. This franchise would move three more times before folding in 1996. It was a turbulent off-season in general in 1986, as the CBA shrunk to 12 teams.
1986-1987 Season
The Bay State Bombardiers move to Pensacola to become the second version of the Tornados. This version began in 1978 as the Harrisburg Hammerheads, then the Maine Lumberjacks, on to Bay State before arriving in Pensacola.
1987-1988 Season
Power Forward Norris Coleman signs with the Tornados after playing one year with the NBA Los Angeles Clippers. Coleman was a second-round draft pick (38th overall) of the Clippers after being named to the Big-8 All-Conference team while at Kansas State. New owner Eli Jacobson has high hopes for the Tornados.
1988-1989 Season
1989-1990 Season
1990-1991 Season
The franchise would relocate two more times before folding in 1995.
